The 2024 Ningxia Helanshan Mountain Wine Production Area Bi-quarterly Half-Marathon (Autumn) kicked off in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region on September 16, 2024.
This year, the half-marathon event was added to the list of major events during the Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo. It included a half-marathon and grapeyard running and attracted some 6,000 participants.
About 4,800 people attended the half-marathon event. Statistics show that of the total, 2,746 runners came from other places of the country, up six percent from the same period in 2023.
At 8 a.m., with the firing of the starting gun, participants began their race. After fierce competition, Zhang Guofu won the gold medal in the men's group of the half-marathon at one hour, seven minutes and 23 seconds while Yang Yuxin took the first place in the women's group at one hour, 25 minutes and 48 seconds.
The competition was held during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. To further promote the coordinated development among the sports, tourism and wine industries, Xixia district of Yinchuan city has rolled out the "1 plus N" development strategy, which focuses on wine marathon event held together with the industries such as food, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment, and come up with 12 supportive cultural and tourism activities in five series.
So far, the district has opened multiple eco-tourism lines along grapeyards at the eastern foot of the Helanshan Mountain.
Participants of the marathon event could visit 43 A-class scenic areas with no ticket charges in the first entrance site or ticket discounts from Sept 15 to 17. The introduction of the preferential policies was aimed at attracting more tourists to Yinchuan and facilitating the integrated development of cultural, tourism and sports industries together with the wine sector.
At the running tracks, there were many special goods on display as well.
"The marathon event is not only a sports event but also a valuable opportunity for the wine production area at the eastern foot of the Helanshan Mountain to showcase its charm to the world," said an organizer, adding that the event will help further promote mass health development, and enhance the reputation and attraction of the wine production area.
In the years to come, Xixia district will hold more exciting sports and cultural events and provide tourists as well as runners with more surprises and better experience.